Post-hole digger.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN HOGLE, OF TIFTON, GEORGIA.

'IPOST-HOLE DIG-GER.

' i I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 719,800, dated February 3, 1903.

Application filed November 29, 1901. Serial No. 84,108. (No model.)

To allb'whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN HOGLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tifton, in the county;.0f Berrien andState of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Post-Hole Digger, of which the following is a specification. a I

This invention relates to post-hole diggers.

The object ofithe invention is to provide animplement in" the use of which post-holes may be rapidly aud easily sunkand in which roots of trees or vines which would operate to impede the progress of the implement shall be severed in advance of the bit.

A further objectis to assemble the gate or valve with the head in such manner as to 0bviate the presentation of an obstruction at the point where the two elements are associated.

A further object is to simplify the construction, increase the efficiency, and lower the cost of production of the device.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a post-hole digger, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated a form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the scope of the invention, and in the drawings- Figure l is a view in perspective viewed from the top of the device. Fig. 2 is a similar View viewed from the bottom, the operating-handle being omitted. Fig. 3 is a view in bottom plan. Fig. 4. is a view in transverse section taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 3, and looking in the direction, of the arrow thereon. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view showing the manner in which the gate or valve is associated with the head.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the head, the same being a single-whirled helix viewed in side elevation and being construct- .rounded cuttingedge 3, disposed tangential to the axis of rotation of the head and oper; ating by a shearing cut rapidly and easily to cleave the earth from the center of the head loutward. Secured to the periphery of the head and projecting beyond the bit is a knife or cutter 4., which is designed to sever roots of trees or vines that would operate to impede the progress of the implement. The knife 4 may be integral with the head or secured thereto, as may be preferred. Hinged to the other wall 5 of the said recess is a gate or valve 6, the same being constructed of a piece of metal having its outer edge curved to conform to the periphery of the head and its free edge overlapping the bit, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. In order to obviate the presentation of an obstruction at the point where the gate is hinged to the wall 5 of the recess, which would operate to interl'ere with the proper use of the implement, the hinged connection between the parts is elfected by providing the said wall with two recesses 7 and forming the gate with two tongues 8, which are bent upon themselves, as shown in Fig. 5, to present hinged members, a pin 9, passed through the head parallel with the shoulder 5 and projecting through the recesses 7, serving to hold the gate assembled with the head.

The center of the head is provided with a hub 10, through which passes the shank 11 of the handle 12, the lower end of the shank projecting beyond the under side of the head and being pointed, as shown at 13. The shank may be held associated with the hub in any preferred manner, preferably. by having a threaded connection therewith, and. as this will be readily understood detailed illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary.

In the use of the devicethe point 13 is inserted into the ground and the handle is turned from right to left, thereby causing the bit 2, when downward pressure is applied to the handle, to shear into the earth and cut the same, the detached earth passing upward to the surface of the head through the gate, and is thereby held from falling back into the opening made by the implement. Should roots be encountered as the. implement is sunk, the knife 4 will sever them, and thus prevent any interference with the operation of the implement. In addition to cutting roots the knife 4 also cuts the side wall ofthe opening and being projected beyond the periphery of the head will make the hole somewhat larger than the same, so that in removing the implement from the hole there will be no interference between the head and the walls of the post-hole.

The device of this invention will be found thoroughly efiective in use, and by reason of the simplicity of its construction it may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low figure. Further, by the manner of assembling the parts of the device danger of derangement or of breakage in use is reduced to a minimum.

Having thus fully described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An implement of the character specified comprising a head composed of a singlewhirled helix having one side provided with an angular recess, the lower terminal of the helix being curved downward to present a bit disposed to one side of the center of the head and having its cutting edge approximately straight from the periphery of the head to a point near the center thereof and then curved to present a rounded cutting edge disposed tangential to the axis of rotation of the head and operating to give a shearing cut from the center portion of the head outward.

2. An implement of the character specified comprising a head composed of a singlewhirled helix having one side provided with an angular recess, the lower terminal of the helix being curved downward to present a bit disposed to one side of the center of the head and having its cutting edge approximately straight from the periphery of the headto a point near the center thereof and then curved to present-a .rounded cutting edge disposed tangential to the axis of rotation of the head and operating to give a shearing out from the center portion of the head outward, a gate associated with the upperterminal of the helix, a knife carried. by the periphery of the head and projecting beyond the bit, and means for operating the head.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN HO GLE.

Witnesses:

W. L. HARMAN, J. BADGER MURROW. 

